NBA Media personalities and fans have suggested that Joel Embiid is deliberately avoiding games against the top teams, and the powerful center has directly spoken about this perception.
Embiid, in response, stated, “I am uncertain about the origin of that assertion. It’s entertaining because in every single clash with a team, I believe I have excelled, played a crucial role in securing wins, and met the performance standards needed for success. That’s why I discourage giving it too much importance. One predominant thing I notice is that merely mentioning the name ‘Joel Embiid’ brings in substantial attention and drives monetary gains. So, as long as my name can assist someone in generating revenue, I’m all for it. Keep provoking. I appreciate it. I thrive on it.”
The reigning league MVP was absent from three straight games due to a knee injury, but upon his comeback against the Rockets, he put on an outstanding performance, racking up 41 points on 12-21 shooting and grabbing ten rebounds.
However, a worrying trend has emerged as he has already sat out multiple games this season due to various health problems such as the flu and an ankle injury.
An NBA player must take part in a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for end-of-season awards, which means that he can only afford to miss eight more games out of the remaining 44 before becoming ineligible for the MVP title.
Yet, Embiid indicates that his primary focus is on his team’s positioning as the playoffs near.
“I have already validated myself,” declared Embiid. “If the chance for a second honor arises, I will pursue it. I won’t force it on myself or actively pursue it. My performance on the court will always make the strongest statement. Our main goal is to secure wins. That’s crucial. If we maintain our momentum and the stats support my inclusion in the [MVP] conversations, that’s great. However, ultimately, if I fall short of meeting the criteria for the required number of games to qualify, then so be it.”
Image Source: Joel Embiid @ Instagram
